Driving a motorcycle can be dangerous. It only takes a split second for a passing car to hit you or run you off the road. A slippery patch can cause a wipeout at high speed. And because a motorcyclist is more exposed than the driver of a car, any accident can cause serious personal injuries.
The most common personal injuries after a motorcycle accident are:
- Damage to the legs and lower extremities that can include broken bones, lacerations, torn muscles, severe burns, and, in a worst case, the loss of limbs.
- Injuries to the hands, arms, and torso including broken bones, torn muscles, severe burns, and lacerations.
- Head injuries that can include surface level damage such as cuts or bruises, or deeper damage including concussions and, particularly in cases where one was not wearing a helmet, brain damage.
- Spinal cord and back injuries, such as strains and injured vertebra. These can be deceptive, as their symptoms can sometimes take a long time to surface.
- Road Rash, a type of friction burn caused by sliding along the ground at high speed after a wipeout that can be as minor as a scrape or serious enough to expose muscle and bone.
When Do I Need a Lawyer After a Motorcycle Accident?
In Ontario, many of your medical expenses after suffering a personal injury in a motorcycle accident are paid by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, or OHIP. But while this covers a number of expenses for hospital stays and medical care, it does not cover drugs, long-term expenses, caregiver costs, or loss of income during your recovery time.
In an ideal world, your motorcycle insurance company would fill in the gaps left by OHIP by providing the coverage and compensation you require. Unfortunately, this does not always happen.
If another driver was involved, they may have fled the scene, leaving you without vital contact and insurance information for your claim. Your insurance company may not want to pay out, and might assess you as requiring less compensation than you need. In the case of a serious injury that incapacitates you and causes a delay in filing the claim, they may try to deny your claim due to it being filed too late. In a worst-case scenario, your insurance provider might reject your claim on a technicality, leaving you without support.
The best protection is to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. A qualified personal injury lawyer can ensure that your documents are in order, that your insurance claim is filed in time, that you are receiving the correct amount of compensation after your claim is filed, and if your insurance claim has been rejected, represent you in court and get you the justice you deserve.
What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Accident?
For best results after suffering a personal injury in a motorcycle accident – either for an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit – there are a number of steps you should take as soon as possible, if you are medically capable:
- Remain on the scene and make it safe. Ensure that your motorcycle is turned off and that you and it are off the road. If there are any injuries or damage to any vehicles, contact 911.
- Gather as much information as possible. This includes documenting the scene and the accident as best you can, and getting the identifying information of whatever police officers appear on site, as well as a copy of the police report. If there is another vehicle involved, this includes the license plate and insurance provider of the other vehicle, as well as the identity, contact information, and driver’s license number of the other driver. Take pictures if you can.
- Seek immediate medical attention for any injuries you have suffered, and have the attending doctor document them. Also, see your family doctor to find and document any additional injuries or emerging symptoms.
- Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to file a claim.
- Document how any personal injuries you have suffered have impacted your life after the accident. This includes pain and suffering, no matter how small, as well as impairments to your daily routine, from work to recreation.
Why Lerners after a Motorcycle Accident?
If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury after a motorcycle accident, Lerners Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Our qualified lawyers have the experience with motorcycle and auto insurance and insurance law you need to help you or your loved ones get the compensation you need and deserve. And if you cannot come to us – if you are recovering in the hospital or at home and are unable to travel – we will come to you, as well as provide a free initial consultation.